Throughout my years as a sports nutritionist, I’ve met more and more young athletes who’ve been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Many experts believe that young people with ADHD tend to be drawn toward sports, and what an athlete eats can aggravate this condition (that’s important to know since studies show that ADHD can impair coordination and motor skills).
The #1 ingredient in the hot seat right now is artificial colors: Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6. These eight provide the hues for a number of food products, from candy to BBQ sauce. But activists have called them the "secret shame" of the food industry, and say they should be banned by the Food and Drug Administration.
The consumer watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has petitioned the FDA to require a warning label on foods that contain any artificial dyes, and has considered requesting an outright ban. The appeal has the support of 19 well-known psychiatrists, toxicologists, and pediatricians.
Studies show that kids’ behavior improves when these artificial colorings are removed from their diets, and worsens when they're added in, but the amount of these dyes certified for use in foods has more than quadrupled since 1995.
I have pretty strong feelings about artificial additives – unnatural colors, flavors, and preservatives aren’t needed and don’t belong in our food supply. Fortunately, more and more food companies are choosing to do away with them.
The best way for you to avoid them is to ditch the junk habit in favor of more whole foods (i.e. fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, etc.) and read ingredient lists. Bottom line: whether you have ADHD or not, the old saying holds true—you are what you eat!